Indicator.



No. 353.612` PATENTED MAY 14. 1907. H. WILSON.

INDIGATOR.

PPLIUATIGH FILED ooms. 190e.

Alfamey mii UNITED S'IhdlflllilfK `lryfll'ttl OFFICE.

HRRY WILSON, OF 'WASlIlNGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALFTO W. B. LIN DSEY, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

INDICATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 14, 1907.

.rival of employees.

The indicator broadly speaking is of that type adapted to he used inconnection With a system wherein each employee is designated by anumber, or equivalent designation, and the object of the presentinvention is to prof vide an indicator of this type in which movableindicator-elements or markers are ernployed, one for each employee, thesaid markers being normally visible, each indicater-element 'having anumber or equivalent data on its outer or exposed face, and eachindicator-element so mounted, that when moved by the employee, theyTwill be shifted into hidden position., from which position they may onlybe removed h3? some one in charge of the apparatus.

Another object of the present invention is to irovide a device of thischaracter, which will be extremely simple in its ronstruction, and cheapto manufacture, and one which Vwill enable the determining of the exacttime of arrival at Work of any employee.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a device of thischaracter in which danger of collusion or fraud among the employces,will be reduced to a minimum; fur thermore, to provide a device in whichany one or more of the indicating elements may bc easily and :pliclrlyremoved from the indi cator board when desired for any purpose whatever.

The invention consists in the novel construction, combination andarrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described will beemployed to designate like parts throughout' the several views, inwhich:-

Figure 1 is a front elevation of an indicator, or indicating hoard,constructed in accordance with my invention, and partly broken away,certain of the indicating elements bcing shown in their exposedposition, and others thereof being shown in the hidden or concealedposition. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical sectional View taken on theline 2--2 of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional View teken on theline/3 3 oi' Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a detached detail perspective vi ew of apart l of one of the slotted strips which carry the 'novaile indicatingelements, one of said elements being shown at the limit of its `movementin one direction, and another of the elements being shown at the limitof its movenient in the opposite direction. Fig, is a similar view showing the rear ol' a part of one of said strips; Fig. 6 is a detacheddetail pers ective view showing the rear face of one of t 1e indicatingelements.

In construction the device embodies broadly a base-board i, which, aswill be nnderstood, may be of any desired size according to the mimberof markers or indicating elements whichE it is desired to accommodate.In the present illustration I have shown this base as provided with apair of eyes 2, by means ofrwhich the same can be suitablysnspended'irorn a Wall or the like, though of course this is not anessential fea ture of construction, as the indicator may be used in anymanner found most desirable.

At the upper edge of' the base 1, on the front face thereof, is agrooved or slotted gniderail 3, and at the lower edge of the said base,also on the front face thereof, is a sirniler guide-rail 4. Forconvenience in manufacture these rails 3 and 4 are preferably groovedfrom end to end, and they receive the ends of a plurality of sliiltablehiding strips 5, which may be of any desired material, though preferablyan opaque matcriel of some nature, by means of which when the indicatinelements are shifted to position to lie bac of the said strips, the saidelements will be hidden from view. Each Ystrip 5, is adapted to have arange of movement equal a proxilnately to the Width of the strip, anconsequently to so limit the niovenient of cach of these strips in theIOO IOS

grooved rails 3 and 4, the latter are provided with stop pins (i, (i.

Corresponding to the number ol" hiding strips 5, I provide carryingplates or stri )s 7, disposed vertically on the ront face o the base 1,between the guide-rails 3, 4, and spaced a short distance away from thefront face of said base, which ma r be done by filler blocks or rests 8,as clearly seen in Fig. 2 of the drawings. These carrying plates orstrips 7, are provided at equidistant intervals throughout their lengthwith substantially segmental-shaped slots S), terminating at one end ina slightly enlarged rounded opening 10, the urpose of which willhereinafter appear. i311 each of the said slots 9, there is adapted tobe received the shank 11, of the indicating element or marker, in thisinstance in the forni of a button or disk 12, the buttons or disks beingnumbered consecutively as shown. These buttons or disks are held in theslots 9, by the head 14, on the shank l1, which head is of a size whichwill be received within the opening 10, but is of a greater diameterthan the width of the slot 9, so that the button or disk after beingplaced within the said slot 9, is held therein until )ositively removed.The shank 11, of said button or disk is, after being introduced into theslot 9, prevented from normally falling into the opening 10, and therebypermitting the button or disk to drop out, by means of a spring arm 15,attached at or adjacent one end, as by soldering, or in any othersuitable manner to the carrying plates or strips 7. The other end ofeach of these arms is free, and the arms are so positioned on the rearface of the carrying plates or strips 7, as to lie directly back of theopenings 10. It will be observed consequently, that when the buttons ordisks constituting the indicating elements are in the exposed positionas shown for certain of said indicating elements in Fig. 1 of thedrawings, that the shank 11, rests on the arm 15, instead of fallinginto the opening 1U. If at anytime it is desired to remove any one ormore of the indicating elements, the free end of the arm 15 is de ressedtoward the base l, thus removing tie su port for the shank 11, of thebutton or dis i, and allowing the shank of the latter to drop intoopening 10, so that it may be removed from the slot. The arlns 15, maybe depressed by rovidino the carrying plates or strips 7 witi a smalopening 16, opposite each arm into which a pencil or any small diameteror pointed instrument may be placed to depress the said arms, or thefree end of this arm may be extended slightly beyond the ed e of thecarrying plates or strips, as will e readily apparent.

Obviously locking means should be employed for securing the hidingstrips 5, in their two respective positions, in order that [unauthorizedpersons lnay not shift these strips, and thus expose indicating elementsintended, for the purpose of obtaining the desired record, to be hidden.Such lock however, may be of`any type or pattern which will cooperatewith the indicator board, and in the )resent illustration Iv have shownin dotted ines in Fig. 1 a longitudinally shiftable locking bar 17,provided with lugs 18, against which the hiding strips 5 engage. Whenthis bar is shifted in one direction by a key inserted throughkey-opening 19, the hiding strips 5, will be locked in their oneposition, and in order to move the said strips 5, to their oppositeposition, the bar 17 is irst moved, so as to permit the movement of thestrips 5.

In `operation, the device is placed in the oflice, or at any other pointdesired by the attendant whose duties it may he to keep a record of theworkmen or employees. The numbered indicating elements are placed intheir extreme or rest position at one end of the slots 9, exposed toview, as shown by the indicating elements numbered 1, 2 and 3, in Fig. 1of the drawings. Assuming that the workman or employee who has beengiven N o. 1, arrives at the ofiice, he moves the said element or markerso as to cause it to ride in its slot 9, and disappear behind the hidingstrip 5 assuming a rest position at the other end of said slot. When thetime arrives for all of the employees or workmen to have reported, theattendant whose duties it is to keep a record of the time,can tell at aglance at the indicator, just wh'at employees are absent, or have notreported, and may make note of the same as is desired. When it is againdesired to use the indicator, the hiding strips 5, are simply shifted tothe opposite position, thus again exposing all the indicating elementsor markers, and the workmen or employees as they again report, simplymove the markers so as to cause them to ride to the opposite ends of theslots Q. These markers or indicating elements are in )ractice soconstructed that the shanks 11,

ri e very freely in the slots 9, and in ordery that an employee whenmoving his own marker or indicator-element may not accidentally causethe same to strike the indicator element above, and thus erroneouslymove the latter marker also to reported p0- sition, I preferably providethe carrying plates or strips 7, at two points above the slots 9, withlugs 20, which may be readily formed by simply cutting the plates orstrips 7 and striking out the material so cut. The buttons or disks 12,being eccentrically mounted on their shanks 11, as clearly illustratedin Fig. 6 of the drawings, will, When they engage said lugs 20, turn orrotate as will be readily apparent in a manner which Will not interferewith their free riding in the slots 9,

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acacia but they will be prevented from turning in such manner as toengage the marker or indicating element ahove.

An important feature of the invention, and one which makes the deviceparticnlariy adapted for use in connection with the timekeeping oivemployees, is that of the markers or indicating elements being providedon 'the outer or exposed faces thereof with the numhers or equivalentda'ta, and their Vheini.; readily detachable from the carrying-memher,as, when a marker is shifted to position where it is hidden by one ofthe strips 5, the number or other data belongin r to that pari ticularmarker is also hidden, o )visiting dan ger of an erroneous reading ofthe hoard as might result were `a part of theindicating data leftexposed when the marker is shifted. The time-keeper or other attendantis thus enabled to read the hoard almost at a giance, and danger of anerroneous treading thereof is reduced to a minimum.

it will he observed that while the device is extremely simple andell'ectivc, for assisting the person or persons charged with the dutiesof determining the arrival oi employees or Workmen at the proper time,that it may he utilized for various other urposes as Well, for instance,ii a certain Wer rman or employee is discharged, or ia'id ofi', themarker hearing his number can he readily removed in an instant from theboard. Also, should an employee or workman he directed to perform acertain task which requires him to leave the factory, the system oi theofiice may re nire that such workman or employee go to ille indicatinghoard and shift his marker thereon so as to show that he isalfsent, andthe marker hearingr his number remains hidden until he again reports.This however is illustrative simply of the various advantages which mayhe obtained hy the utilization of the construction oi' indicator shownand described, the invention residing broadly in the utilization oi theshiftahle markers or indicating elements hearing or carrying theindicatingl nurnlzers or equivalent marks or data, and the shift? aidehiding strps therefor, and i conse-V esire to limit myself to theVquently do not particular construction shown, hut claim irondiy theright to make such aiterations and 'changes therein as may come withinthe scope of the appended ci aims.

Having fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

l. An indicator comprising an indieaton element carrying-member having asubstantially Segmente -shaped slot, an indicatorelement comprising adisk having a shank engaging in the s ot and shiftable freely therein,and means shiftable laterally in iront of the carrying-member for hidingsaid indi- Aeach of said plates, and shiftable hiding catorelement thelaiterie shifted` tp extreme position at either end of the slot.

E. An indicator comprising a plurality of indicator-elements, supportlnf means for shitably suspending said e ements, and means to preventengagement of one element whiie being shifted with a stationa element,said means bein located ont of t e normal shifting path of t e elements.

An indicator comprising a piate havin a pinraity of substantiailysegmentatsha e slots, and a'correspondinv number of indicator-elementshaving shanllrs adapted to enter said slots and movable freely thereinfrom end to end of the slots, and iugs carried by the plate adjacenteach slot -to prevent engagement of one indicator-element while heingshifted with a stationary indicator-element.

4. An indicator comprising a plurality of shift-able indicator-elements,means for suspending the elements, means located out of the normalshifting paths of the elements to prevent the engagement of one elementWhile being shifted with a stationary element, and separate means forconcealing the elements when shifted.

5, In an indicator, a base provided adjacent the upper and lower edgeswith grooved guide-rails, a plurality of carryinglates carried by saidbase, a plurality o1P shiitable markers or indicator-elements carried bystrips, one for each earr ng-plate and set o mark ers or indicator-eements.

6. In an indicator, a carryingiate, a plurality of shiftable indicator eements or markers carried by said plate, a shiftable hiding stri'g forsaid indicator-elements or markers, an ,means for locking said stripwhen shifted toeither of its extreme positions.

An indicator comprising a plate havin a plurality of substantiallysegmental-shaped slots arranged one above the other in the late, aplurality of indicator elements, one Yor each slot, eachindicator-siement having a shank adapted to move freely in the slots,

means for retaining said Shanks in the slots of said plate, and meanscarried by the plate adjacent cach slot to prevent .engagement of oneindicator-element `While being shifted from one end of the sint to theother with a stationary eiernent.

8. in an indicator, a plate provided with a plurality of slotsterminating at one end in an cniarged opening, and a lurality ofindicator-elements, one for eacii slot, each indicatoreiement com risina disk havin a shank received in the s ot, a `ead on the s ank formaintaining the same in the slot, and sprin arms carried on the rearface of'the plate an normally closin said enlar ed openings to preventthe shan s of said in icator-elements dropping into the same.

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9. In an indicator, a late provided with a plurality of substantia ysegmental-shaped slots, a plurality of consecutlvel -numberedindicatopelements, one for eac slot, and shiftable to two rest positionsin the res ective ends of said slots, and means carrie by the late andlocated out of the normal shifting path of the elements to prevent theen agement of one indicator-element while being shifted in its slot withan adjacent stationary element.

10. In an indicator, a manually-operated indicator-element, ashiftingath for said element, a hidin -strip shiftale over said path,said strip W en in position at either of its extremes of movementconcealing aportion of said path, said strip being of sufficient widthto conceal said element, whereby said element may be moved from anexposed to an unexposed position, the latter position becoming theexposed position when the strip is shifted.

11. In an indicator, an indicator element shiftable between twopositions, and a shiftable hiding-strip for rendering said elementunexposed, the movement of said strip from one extreme of its positiont0 the other rendering the unexposed element to an exposed position.

In testimony whereof I alix m`y signature 3o in the presence of twowitnesses:

HARRY WILSON.

Witnesses:

SIGMUND J. BLOCK, THEO. BLOCK.

